Apparatus for transmitting pseudollite signal based on single clock and positioning system using the same

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for transmitting a pseudollite signal so that a navigation signal is transmitted includes: at least four pseudollite configured to generate and output pseudollite codes for navigation; antennas configured to transmit signals outputted by the pseudollite corresponding to the antennas, respectively; and a single synchronization clock unit configured to provide each of the pseudollites with a synchronization clock.

CROSS-REFERENCE(S) TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority of Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2009-0075819 and 10-2010-0031054, filed on Aug. 17, 2009, and Apr. 5, 2010, respectively, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and an apparatus for precise positioning using Global Positioning System (GPS) pseudollites in a space where no GPS signal can reach (e.g. indoor environment).

2. Description of Related Art

In general, a GPS system refers to a system for determining positions using satellites placed in a medium Earth orbit at a predetermined altitude from the Earth. Specifically, a user of the GPS system receives signals from at least four different satellites in the medium Earth orbit, and calculates his/her position using the received signals. Besides the current position, altitude information can also be acquired, if necessary, from the signals.

However, the GPS system has a limitation in that signals from the medium Earth orbit satellites cannot reach indoor environments or urban/canyon areas with densely located tall buildings and mountains, making the GPS positioning service unavailable.

Therefore, as an alternative to the GPS system in indoor environments or urban/canyon areas with densely located tall buildings and mountains, a method of using pseudollites has been proposed. The pseudollites will now be described briefly.

Pseudollites refer to devices for transmitting signals to indoor environments or areas where densely located tall buildings block signals from medium Earth orbit satellites, as if the signals are transmitted from the satellites.

The pseudollite system includes a number of pseudollites and a reference station for monitoring signals of the pseudollites and generating calibration information (e.g. time calibration information). The pseudollite system requires a wireless link to transmit calibration information from the reference station to users.

An advanced type of pseudollite system includes a master pseudollite and a number of slave pseudollites. This type of pseudollite system equips the master pseudollite with a precise time source so as not to use a wireless link for providing users with calibration information (e.g. time calibration information). A reference station, which is configured to monitor pseudollite signals, monitors the time of the slave pseudollites. A system has also been proposed in which, based on information regarding the time of a number of slave pseudollites monitored by a reference station, each slave pseudollite is synchronized by a PLL control circuit installed in the pseudollite. Such a pseudollite system including master and slave pseudollites is too expensive to be used for indoor positioning because a system of a number of pseudollites must be installed on each floor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a pseudollite system, which can be implemented at a reduced cost, and a method for operating the same.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a pseudollite system, which requires no pseudollite for providing calibration information (e.g. time information), and a method for operating the same.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention can be understood by the following description, and become apparent with reference to the embodiments of the present invention. Also, it is obvious to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains that the objects and advantages of the present invention can be realized by the means as claimed and combinations thereof.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for transmitting a pseudollite signal so that a navigation signal is transmitted includes: at least four pseudollites configured to generate and output pseudollite codes for navigation; antennas configured to transmit signals outputted by the pseudollites corresponding to the antennas, respectively; and a single synchronization clock unit configured to provide each of the pseudollites with a synchronization clock.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a positioning system using pseudollites includes: a pseudollite signal transmission system including a clock supply unit configured to provide a single synchronization clock, at least four pseudollites integrated into a single platform and configured to generate PRN codes identical to GPS signals and predetermined navigation data and output the generated PRN codes and navigation data while being synchronized with the clock, and antennas configured to emit output signals of the pseudollites, respectively; and a receiver configured to receive a navigation signal transmitted from each of the pseudollite antennas and perform positioning.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the construction of a pseudollite positioning system to which the present invention is applied.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be constructed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. Throughout the disclosure, like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures and embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates the construction of a pseudollite positioning system to which the present invention is applied. The construction and operation of a pseudollite positioning system in accordance with the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1.

The integrated pseudollite includes a main unit 100, a number of pseudollites 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115, a single synchronization clock 110 configured to synchronize the pseudollites 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115, and antennas 121, 122, 123, 124, and 125 configured to simultaneously transmit signals generated by the pseudollites 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115. The pseudollites 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 and the antennas 121, 122, 123, 124, and 125 are matched in such a manner that one satellite and one antenna match with each other.

Each of the pseudollites 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 is configured to simultaneously transmit a PRN identification number of a pseudollite, which is different from a GPS satellite, through each of the antennas 121, 122, 123, 124, and 125. The PRN identification number is used as a navigation signal. The receiver is configured to perform positioning using the PRN identification number (i.e. navigation signal), which is simultaneously transmitted by each pseudollite 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 through each antenna 121, 122, 123, 124, and 125.

The pseudollite positioning system in accordance with the present invention includes an integrated pseudollite 100, into which at least four pseudollites 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 (which constitute respective modules) are integrated, and a single synchronization clock 110 which is configured as a module for distributing clock information so that the pseudollites 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 are synchronized. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the at least four pseudollites 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115, which constitute respective modules, are configured to generate navigation signals, which are transmitted to users through corresponding antennas 121, 122, 123, 124, and 125, respectively. Therefore, respective pseudollites 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 are synchronized with reference to clocks received from the single synchronization clock 110 and transmit signals. In the case of a GPS receiver 200 configured for both indoor and outdoor environments, signals from both a real GPS system and the pseudollite navigation system can be processed for precise positioning.

In general, a GPS receiver 200 in a GPS system receives navigation signals from GPS satellites, which are synchronized by precise atomic clocks, and measures the distance (pseudo-distance). The GPS receiver also receives almanac and ephemeris data from the GPS satellites and calculates their current positions. In order to calculate the current positions of satellites, in theory, signals from three satellites are sufficient to determine the position of the receiver based on triangulation. However, when the user's GPS receiver 200 is equipped with a TCXO-grade clock source with large clock error, and when signals from only three satellites are used, the clock error from the clock source of the GPS receiver 200 must be solved as an unknown parameter. In order to avoid this problem, an additional satellite signal is used to calculate the user's position and the receiver clock error. This mechanism is adopted by a pseudollite system so that, in a shadow area where GPS satellites are unavailable, virtual GPS satellites (i.e. pseudollites) are used for positioning.

However, the conventional pseudollite system is too expensive to construct. Therefore, the present invention is directed to constructing a pseudollite system of comparable performance at a substantially reduced cost.

In accordance with the present invention, at least four pseudollites 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115, which constitute respective modules, are integrated into an integrated pseudollite 100 and, instead of installing a clock (e.g. TCXO) in each of the pseudollites 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115, a single synchronization clock 110 is used to synchronize navigation signals. Specifically, the single synchronization clock 110 guarantees that navigation signals generated by respective pseudollites 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 are transmitted through pseudollite antennas 121, 122, 123, 124, and 125 which are arranged in optimum geometry. The optimum geometry may be determined so that the distance between the pseudollites 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 and the pseudollite antennas 121, 122, 123, 124, and 125 is the same, in order to remove delay caused by lines. Those skilled in the art can understand that the optimum geometry may be varied depending on the shape of the shadow area or indoor space, which will not be described in more detail.

The GPS receiver 200 can receive signals transmitted in the above-mentioned optimum geometry and perform precise positioning in a shadow area where there are no visible GPS satellites. Specifically, the GPS receiver 200 receives pseudollite PRN codes, pseudollite position information (antenna position), antenna calibration information, and the like from the pseudollites 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 through respective antennas 121, 122, 123, 124, and 125, and performs positioning using the received signals. In order to determine the clock errors of the user terminal and the integrated pseudollite 100, five pseudollites are used. Alternatively, the difference of time between both clocks is determined, and four pseudollites are used. This approach, by simply adding a positioning algorithm to a conventional GPS receiver, constructs a pseudollite system enabling continuous positioning in either indoor or outdoor environment.

The above-described present invention is summarized as follows: Carrier waves are loaded with PRN codes, which are identical to GPS signals, and proper navigation data. At least four pseudollites are synchronized by a single clock and are integrated into a single platform. Antennas emit navigation signals from corresponding pseudollites. The antennas for emitting navigation signals are arranged in geometry maintaining optimum positioning precision, and the GPS user terminal receives the navigation signals and performs positioning.

The pseudollites 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 in accordance with the present invention are integrated into a single platform so that they are synchronized by a single clock (e.g. TCXO) source.

Respective antennas 121, 122, 123, 124, and 125 for signal transmission are arranged so that the Geometric Dilution Of Precision (GDOP) is optimized for positioning in the positioning service area, and the geometry and error elements resulting from the geometry are calibrated.

Each of the modularized pseudollites 111, 112, 113, 114, and 115 may transmit navigation data (message) including the geometry of connected antennas and error elements resulting from the geometry.

In order to determine the clock error of the pseudollites during positioning by the user terminal, five pseudollites are used, i.e. one plus the number (four) of pseudollites needed by the conventional navigation system. Alternatively, four pseudollites are used, and the difference between the clocks of the user terminal and the pseudollite system is determined, thereby positioning the user.

When the PRN code of a navigation signal received by the user terminal belongs to a real satellite, the conventional GPS positioning method is followed and, when the PRN code belongs to a pseudollite, positioning is performed based on geometry information and calibration information from the pseudollite. When both signals are received simultaneously, positioning is performed based on a signal providing optimum GDOP.

Those skilled in the art can understand that, although the present invention has been described in connection with a GPS system, the present invention is not limited to GPS. Specifically, when Galileo system is available, i.e. in a Galileo/GPS combined system, pseudollites can be similarly used by simply using Galileo/GPS combined signals and replacing the positioning algorithm of the user terminal.

In accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the same functionality and performance of a conventional pseudollite system, which enables positioning in a shadow area where GPS satellites are unavailable, is provided by a system at a substantially reduced cost, which has a single clock and requires no reference station and no wireless network for providing calibration information.

While the present invention has been described with respect to the specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. 

1. An apparatus for transmitting a pseudollite signal so that a navigation signal is transmitted, comprising: at least four pseudollites configured to generate and output pseudollite codes for navigation; antennas configured to transmit signals outputted by the pseudollites corresponding to the antennas, respectively; and a single synchronization clock unit configured to provide each of the pseudollites with a synchronization clock.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the pseudollites is configured to output calibration information for clock calibration together.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pseudollite codes for navigation are PRN codes reserved to pseudollites identical to GPS signals.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the number of the pseudollites is five.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pseudollite codes for navigation are Galileo/GPS combined signals.
 6. A positioning system using pseudollites, comprising: a pseudollite signal transmission system comprising a clock supply unit configured to provide a single synchronization clock, at least four pseudollites integrated into a single platform and configured to generate PRN codes identical to GPS signals and predetermined navigation data and output the generated PRN codes and navigation data while being synchronized with the clock, and antennas configured to emit output signals of the pseudollites, respectively; and a receiver configured to receive a navigation signal transmitted from each of the pseudollite antennas and perform positioning.
 7. The positioning system of claim 6, wherein each of the antennas is arranged to obtain Geometric Dilution Of Precision (GDOP) conforming to the shape of a positioning service area.
 8. The positioning system of claim 7, wherein each of the pseudollites is configured to output information together, the information enabling calibration of an error element caused by geometry of the antennas.
 9. The positioning system of claim 8, wherein the error element is calibration information for clock calibration including initial phase differences.
 10. The positioning system of claim 6, wherein the number of the pseudollites is five.
 11. The positioning system of claim 6, wherein the pseudollite codes for navigation are Galileo/GPS combined signals.
 12. The positioning system of claim 11, wherein the receiver is configured to perform positioning, when the navigation data is a Galileo/GPS combined signal, using the combined signal and perform positioning, when the navigation data is a GPS signal, using a PRN code emitted by each pseudollite. 